Traditional Paithani Sarees for Ganesh Chaturthi

The most awaited Indian festival is here! Filled with fun and frolic, while Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated throughout the country, it is celebrated with much fanfare in Maharashtra for ten long days quite like the Durga Puja in Bengal. This Ganesh Chaturthi, you might be welcoming guests by hosting Ganesh puja at your place or you might be one of the pandal hoppers, it is important that you get the authentic traditional look right with six yard Paithani silk sarees or better still nine yard Nuvari saris which are longer traditional Paithani sarees from Maharastra in nine yards combined with nath(traditional nose pin) and temple jewelry and of course gajra in your bun to go with it.

This traditional look is so gorgeous and good looking that even the Bollywood stars have not been able to keep themselves away from it. The endless list of Bollywood celebrities who rocked in gorgeous brightly coloured, hand woven and golden peacock motifs with oblique square designer bordered Paithani sarees and Nauvari sarees ranges from yesteryear beauties like Sridevi who was the brand ambassador for yeola paithan sarees and Madhuri Dixit who has donned this gorgeous attire on many occasions including for Ganesha Puja at her home, to Kiron Kher who walked the ramp in this beautiful drape Sensuous Priyanka Chopra was seen in beautiful paithani sarees as Kashi Bai in the famous movie Bajiraomastani. Who can forget the gorgeous wine colored polka dotted identical Paithani sarees worn by her and Deepika Padukone in the famous Pinga song from the movie!

Not just on screen but off screen too Marathi celebrities like Sonali Bendre and Shraddha Kapoor were seen celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in gorgeous paithani sarees. Some of the other well-known faces of Bollywood that were seen in this wonder drape are Padmini Kolhapure, Vidya Balan, Rani Mukherjee, Esha Koppikar, Shilpa Shetty, Kajal Agarwal, the list goes on.

This Ganesh Chaturthi, welcome Ganesha into your home looking resplendent in a sari that spells tradition.Get started and shop for Paithani sarees online for not just yourself but also relatives and friends.
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Indian Handloom Sarees

One of the most graceful, sensuous, stylish and most of all, versatile attires that originated in India, Indian handloom sarees need no introduction. A drape that has the capacity to transform the personality of the wearer, saree is known to switch roles between perfect day wear, business wear, casual wear, evening wear, cocktail wear and bridal wear with complete ease, depending on the type of fabric, colours used, designs, embellishments and the style of draping.

Known for their quality, glamour, variety and excellence, handloom sarees are an integral part of Indian culture that have witnessed many changes in fashion scenario but never failed to evolve and emerge victorious with its sheer magic and enamor. In fact, the cultural heritage of India owes a lot to these handloom weaves that have their own spectacular vision of colour, make and craft.

Handloom sarees from India epitomize an age-old tradition of women’s wear that has not just withstood the onslaught of many different cultural invasions but has gracefully imbibed the best handiwork from them and integrated it upon itself, be it the Mughal inspired Benarasi saree motifs, the Nawab influenced lucknowi chikankari, the Persian inspired Jamdani weave or even the Pallavas and the Chola dynasty down south seen in temple inspired inscriptions on kanchipuram silks.

Handloom sarees have made a name for themselves on the global fashion platform. Today, they are recognized and admired to such an extent that designers across the globe have designed collections inspired by this inimitable piece of six-yard drape. Emerging as a symbol of style, grace, resilience, versatility, and timelessness, sarees reflect the Indian way of life. So infectious is their charisma that several international designers have attempted a stitched or ready to wear saree, but nothing can match the grace of a hand woven six-yard saree.

A lot of global fashion designers have embraced the handloom sarees not only because they want to revive this industry but because they view it as the fashion element of Gen X. A blend of vintage aura combined with modern twist, sarees draw attention easily due to their captivating colors, their versatility to drape in different ways and get a new look every time and their ability to turn heads, every single time.

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Online Handloom Saree Shopping

The timeless ethnic-wear, handloom saree is a hot favorite among women in the country and outside. With Indians spread out all across the globe, e-commerce is redefining itself as a platform to connect people both locally and globally with India’s inherent arts and crafts, its weaving traditions, and fashion heritage.

There are many Indians who are living abroad but are proud of their Indian roots and they don’t shy away from flaunting its rich cultural heritage by wearing traditional drapes like handloom silk sarees at various events and get together. In fact they also celebrate all the Indian festivals with much fanfare and make sure they dress up in traditional Indian drapes.

In an attempt to invigorate the Indian diaspora across the world and make them feel proud of their roots, E-Retailers like Shatika are dedicated to the task of bringing together, on a giant platform, the dedicated sect of artisan weavers with their impeccable skill sets to meet the expectations of various consumers.

“I want my children and my nephews and nieces, who all take pride in their Indian descent to stay connected to our roots” says Sheetal Patel of London. “E-Retailers like Shatika have really made it possible by offering us the convenience to buy handloom sarees that are 100% genuine and made by artisans from remote corners of India which would not have been possible for us to fetch even if we were in India!” she says.

“Handloom sarees online is a cherished dream which will help keep our next generation engaged with our motherland, without missing out on convenience because lets accept it, this generation will not take the extra effort to keep alive the tradition if it doesn’t come easy to them.”

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Handloom Sarees for this Ganesha Chaturthi Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most awaited festivals in India. Everyone wants to adorn themselves with traditional drapes and waits to adorn their households with idols of the elehant god and partake in the festivities.

Over the years, there has been an increase in people adopting eco-friendly ways to celebrate the festival. Big plaster of paris idols have given way to small handmade eco-friendly clay models. Realizing the damaging effect that immersion of humongous plaster of paris idols in oceans, lakes and ponds have on environment and the whole ecosystem is encouraging more and more people to go green and make their own clay idols that can at the end of 10days, be immersed in just a bucket of water.

Going a step forward from clay idols this year are the seed and plant Ganesha idols that have become extremely popular this season. These idols made with clay are not only eco-friendly but also help grow more plants. The noble thought behind planting a Ganesha instead of immersing him is that even after the festival is gone, the lord of prosperity and happiness continues to be with you forever in the form of a plant!

There are workshops run all over the country for this. The intent behind these workshops is three-fold. The first and the most obvious one is to give back to nature with these idols. The second is to teach the current generation to grow their own food. The third and the most important one is to revive the old practice of making one’s own Ganesha idol, which is what the traditional practice has been.

Taking cue from going traditional in making our own Ganesha idols, one is also looking at going back to the roots of tradition in one’s drape. And for this reason, more and more people are encouraged to wear traditional handwoven weaves. Made from natural fibres and with use of organic natural dyes, the handloom sarees are not only eco-friendly but they also encourage the age old craft that is the very identity of our culture. 

Shouting elegance, exclusivity, and creativity, handwoven sarees make the fabric of a tradition rich society. Shatika which is an ardent believer of culture and tradition has a plethora of exclusive online handloom sarees from all parts of the country for you to choose from this Ganesh Chaturthi. You can also decide to pick from a range of green sarees at display to show your support to ‘go green’ loud and clear!

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Royal Rajasthani Wedding Lehengas

Ah, the festival season is here and so is the season of weddings! The most enjoyable time of the year that is filled with hustle and bustle around wedding and festival preparations. In India, wedding is a full on affair that lasts minimum a week and its preparation begins months ago. The bride’s trousseau along with jewellery, hair style, make-up and all other accessories are the most prominent and important aspect of preparations. While different traditional attires adorn brides from different corners of the country, what is captivating the attention of all modern day brides is lavish Rajasthani wedding lehengas.

The traditional wedding lehenga from Rajasthan is a three piece garment consisting of a blouse known as Choli, a long skirt called Ghagraand a Dupatta. Ghagra and Choli are generally crafted in silk, while the Dupatta is usally netted or made of chiffon having broad embroidered glittering gota patti borders on the edges. While the traditional Indian wedding outfits are usually red in color, the new age Rajasthani Lehengascome in many vibrant colors such as feiry orange, blooming pink, bright yellow and royal blue.

Gota patti bridal lehengas from Jaipur are basically the gold embroidered lehengas that flaunt the celebrated Gotapatti work from the state especially on the duppatas that are usually leheriyas crafted on chiffons. The use of appliqué with intricate patterns embroidered in fine gold threads along with Zari ribbon enhances the richness of the bridal outfit. The patterns are very traditional and include motifs of animals and birds like Elephants, Camels and Peacocks.

The rajasthani bridal lehengas online at Shatika come in an array of vibrant festive colors. While the ghagra is a heavily brocade silk with sometimes the gold brocade being highlighted in hand embroidery, the cholis are contrast colored silk with hand embroidery on the sleeves and the duppatas are leheriya chiffons with heavy gota patti work on its borders. Overall they make for splendid bridal wear. You can check them out at: https://www.shatika.co.in/west-indian-handloom-sarees/rajasthani-lehengas-online.html

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Kanchipuram Silk Sarees – The Popular Choice for Handwoven Handloom Saree in India

In a heartfelt gesture, the Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in New Delhi, MaryKay Carlson, wanted to take part in India’s celebration of its 70^thIndependence Day by wearing the very identity of Indian culture - a gorgeous handloom saree.

She took to Twitter to ask for help deciding which saree to wear. Over the past month, using the hashtag #SareeSearch, Ms Carlson tweeted a series of photos and videos while out hunting for the perfect saree. When she finally narrowed down her selection to four most gorgeous handloom sarees, namely Jamdani, Dupion, Kanjeevaram and Tussar, she created a Twitter poll. Nearly 2,000 Twitter users voted to help her decide and zero down on the most prominent and graceful of all choices, the very elegant red Kanchipuramsilk saree.

Many gave many reasons to go for Kanchipuram including some saying that the kanchipuram silk saree had a tinge of saffron and green thus carrying the colors of the country while others said that it carries the colors of India as well as the US, but many opined that kanchipuram looked the best simply because of its rich colors, its superior glint and its elegance which was class apart.

Based on the popular votes, as Ms. Carlson decided to go with the red good looking Kanchipuram saree, it was only fitting that she wrapped up her #SareeSearch by tweeting a picture of herself wearing the voter’s choice saree on 15^thAugust while attending Independence Day celebrations in the capital and tweeting a picture of herself in the winning saree, much to the delight of her followers.

"#SareeSearch success! Excited to attend #IndependenceDayIndia celebration wearing the voters' choice - Kanjeevaram. #We Wear Culture," tweeted Ms Carlson along with a picture of herself in a stunning red and green Kanjeevaram saree.

The world has chosen to go ethnic and celebrate India on the day it got its independence, it’s time we go out and out ethnic and celebrate our culture and tradition like never before, what say India?!

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Sambalpuri Sarees and their Origin

Introduction to Sambalpuri Sarees:

Authentic and traditional hand woven ikat sambalpuri sarees from Odisha state of India. The Tie-dye art reflected in the intricate weaves of Sambalpuri silk sarees is a technique where the threads are first tie-dyed and later woven into a fabric. Also known as Sambalpuri Ikat, Sambalpuri sarees are produced in the Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Balangir district and Boudh District of Odisha Made from 100% hand-woven fabric, these ikat sambalpuri sarees are known for their extra-ordinarily woven pallus and borders in contrasting colours and meaningful designs inspired from the temples of Odisha.

History & Origin:

It is said that the art of sambalpuri ikat migrated to Western Odisha with the Bhulia community who are believed to have fled Northern India after the fall of the ChouhanEmpire at the hands of the Mughals in the year 1192 AD. Since then and up to the year 1925, this art flourished in Western Odisha with just limited number of designs and consisted mostly of saris used by the womenfolk of Odisha that came in few standard vegetable colours. These saris were known as 'Bhulia-Kapta'. The demand was restricted only to Odisha and the craftsmen lived in penury until in 1980’s, the then prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi popularized the weave throughout the country by wearing them.

Characteristics & Features:

Sambalpuri sarees reflect an original style of craft known as Baandha. Traditionally, craftsmen created Baandhas with images of flora or fauna or with geometrical patterns. Newer designs depicting portrait, land scape and flower pods are seen in recent creations by current generation Baandha weavers. Created using a tie & dye technique, the yarns of sambalpuri sarees are tied according to the desired patterns to prevent absorption of dyes, and then dyed. The unique feature of this form of designing is that the designs are reflected almost identically on both side of the saree.This versatile technique enables a craftsman to weave colourful designs, patterns and images into a saree capable of inspiring a thought or conveying a message.

Weaving Process:

Exclusivity of Sambalpuri sarees is in the way they are made. Yarns are tied and dyed manually. It is an arduous process which requires not only patience but fine skills. Created with the three shuttle weaving technique and the extra heald shaft design on primitive pit looms, it is a labor intensive product, and hence expensive. Bomkai saris combine bandha and supplementary thread work. This is called kapta jala, which refers to the dobby mechanism (jala).

Patterns, Colors and Motifs:

Ikat has many styles among the weavers of Orissa. The district of Sambalpur lends its name to the Sambalpuri weave. The Sambalpur Vichitrapuri sari has an extra warp pattern on the body and an extra weft pattern on the pallu, while the shakarapara designs of squares of different colours: white, red and black are in double ikat. The colour scheme for the weave is predetermined with extraordinary precision, so that when the dyed threads are woven together, the design appears in the finished textile, as if by magic.

Among the many flavors of Sambalpuri sarees, Bomkai sarees also known as Sonepuri sarees are extra-ordinarily woven in the pallu with several contrasting colours and designs.The traditional craftsmanship of the 'Bandhakala' is known for its incorporation of traditional motifs like shankha (shell), chakra (wheel), phula (flower), all of which have deep symbolism

Price Range:

Sambalpurisarees are labour intensive and can range anywhere from 4000/- to 10,000/-

How to Identify a Sambalpuri Saree:

The sambalpuri sari is extra-ordinarily woven in the end piece (pallu) with several contrasting colours and designs. The appearance of the sari is related to simplicity and has a tribal tinge in it. The sari is normally dyed to attain the red, black and white background colours. However, today one can find the sari in several designs and multiple colours while retaining their originality. The warps are suitably woven to produce multi coloured end piece. Several patterns are found in the sari which has different names like pestle (rukha), hour-glass shaped drum (dambaroo), small flowers (kanthi phoola), bitter gourd (karela), peacock (mayur/mayuri) and fish.

Wash & Care Guidelines:

• Use a mild detergent after two or three plain washes. Do not keep the sari soaked in detergent for long.
• Do not brush or lash a silk saree as it would lead to tearing of the silk or zari.
• Wash pallu and border separately in the beginning.
• Do not bundle it or keep it wet for a long time.
• In case of stains, wash with cold water immediately.
• For hard stains, get the sari dry cleaned.
• Do not bundle the wet sari along with other garments liable to cause staining.
• Chlorine bleach should never be used on silk as it damages the silk and causes it to yellow.

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